Mike Casey's Blog

Springsteen's Tribute to Levon Helm

by Mike Casey,posted May 3 2012 5:08AM

Bruce Springsteen brought the first leg of his Wrecking Ball tour to a close last night with his first-ever show at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. And it was worth the wait as he turned in a three-hour show, complete with three tour premieres, including "Bishop Danced," released on his Tracks collection in 1998 and last played on March 2nd, 1973 in Berkeley, California. Springsteen said since it was the first time he was playing the Prudential Center he might as well play something for the first time, or in this case, a very long time.
Another premiere was "Hard to Be a Saint in the City," but the other was the highlight of the night. He spotted a sign that read, "Do one for Levon," meaning Levon Helm, the drummer and singer inThe Band who died of cancer last month at the age of 71. Calling him "Levin" [pr: Lev-in], Springsteen said he was "one of the greatest, greatest voices in country, rockabilly and rock and roll. Staggering, while playing the drums... Both his voice and his drumming were so incredibly versatile... You can't replicate it." He then broke into an acoustic version of "The Weight" before the E Street Band found their place and joined in.